Bonsai Garden Forums / BONSAI / General Bonsai

My first tree. . and I think it is suffering!

JRWoods — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 18:55:09 GMT

Hi All,

I am rather concerned here, basically I bought a Chinese Plum bonsai a week ago, well I have done all I was told to do, keeping the soil moist, keeping it in a well lit window sill, however its leaves are browning and dropping off!

I have tried to find advice but it is scarce in supply on this tree and I have no idea whether it is a natural process for it to drop leaves during autumn or not. I have to admit, keeping a Bonsai is much more daunting than I had anticipated! :-(

potting up a crab apple seedling

adam_silver_cardiff — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:57:53 GMT

hey all. i have jsut been given a crab apple seedling from a mate. ( was bought off greenwood bonsai studio. the mate also got me a pot and 1lt of Azo Grit, bonsai soil ( ive also got mesh to cover the holes ) is there anything else i need when potting up ? and how do i handle the roots. do they need trimming or just leave them as is ? do i need to mix anything with this bonsai soil ? the seedling is about 16cm above the soil of its current ( plastic ) pot, here's a little pic :
[img]http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l179/new_world_disorder/DSCN1158-1.jpg[/img]

thanx

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Chamaecyparis lawson

shanusalius — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 11:55:04 GMT

hi guys i am new to bonsai and have recently bought a mature Chamaecyparis lawson in a 3 gallon tub. the trunk was probably 10-15 mm in diameter, i cut it down to around 9 inches and cut off any remaining branches on advise from an article i read on the internet. i have been researching it more and more and am concerned i have ruined my tree! any advise would be hugely appreciated.

thanks

shanus zone 9

Carmona HELP URGENT

EzioAutidore — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 17:37:53 GMT

Hi, I'm Andy, a new 24 year old Bonsai Grower.

I have Just recently bought a five year old Carmona. Everything was going fine, a month of good health, until I decided to change the position of my tree.

My bedroom is an extended room into a bathroom. So as well as having a main front window I also have a small frosted glass window ledge which I was keeping my tree on. I decided in my foolishness that I should move the tree once every three days onto my main window sill to give it more direct light. Upon coming home after work that day (last week) the tree looked wilted. I watered slightly more than usual immediately and the following morning the tree looked perfect again with maybe three yellow leaves.

I researched on the internet about the tree and found out roughly how much light it needs, (one hour a day direct sunlight) so from 5-6 i move it from the frosted glass window to the front window.

Since this happened last week more and more yellow leaves keep appearing, I have to changed how much I water, but am beginning to worry I am over watering or worse still I have root rot.

My only Bonsai education so far has been a few helpful pages about Carmona on the web and the book "The Bonsai Workshop" by Herb L. Gustafson

I am Considering Planting the tree in the garden to nurse it back to health, however this is a scary thought for a beginner.

Any Advise or Help much needed.

Bonsai Expo North @ Sheffield

RoyH — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 21:47:10 GMT

had a great time at the above show today, spoke to many fellow bonsai keepers & dealers & got some bits & pieces. here's some pictures. the bottom picture show Rob Atkinso & Malcolm Brown working on a demo Pine.

Bonsai snaps and UK contacts

Bonsai_in_the_UK — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 21:24:44 GMT

Hi all,

has anybody got any Bonsai photos? If so, please add some to http://www.uk-bonsai.co.uk

You can also add your Bonsai club or shop for free.

Thanks,

Mark.

My First bonsai that i've shaped myself (Conifer)

MWild — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 15:00:28 GMT

So today i visited a local nursery that i never knew existed, i LOVED it! they had everything! Acer's, Fuschias, Pine's, Maples! You name it!

So anyway, being a beginner i saw a little connifer shrub that had some capabilities and saw a bonsai init so i bought it (£10) not too bad i think :D

So i got it home, got to work, pruned away, and finally got a sort of bonsai shape: tell me what you guys think. This was my first ever attempt at this by the way. Im quite happy with it :)

So now im going to leave it in that container for a few weeks and then ill put it into the bonsai container i also got at the nursery which i paid £5 for and its glazed with a humidity tray.

Also i dont know if you can see but there is some moss growing near the trunk which i am happy about.

Overall im happy with my first ever bonsai :D

What do you guys think?

Hi Everyone HELP!

blackrose1959 — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 20:44:44 GMT

:crying:

I have a lovely Bonsai tree that was brought for me as a present. I do not know what kind it is as when purchased it was sold as a Bonsai no mention of what kind it is at all.

As you can see from the pictures I need help I do not want to lost this tree.

I water in by soaking it in a tub using only rain water which is room temperature . It is left to soak is this the right method or not. I may

not have been doing this right as I have been leaving it for

half an hour. After researching about them I think I have been over watering it.

I this have been doing every two days and feeding it once every two weeks.

Thankyou in advance for your help.

bonsai blues

Aesculus hippocastanum Bonsai

MWild — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 17:32:19 GMT

Hey guys,

Just now my uncle has offered me a Aesculus hippocastanum (Horse chestnut) tree so i can use it for bonsai.

Im not sure on how big it is, although im hoping its fairly big as i read these make nice big bonsai's.

Would anyone be able to find me some pictures on general styles for this species as i cant seem to find any myself. Or just any tips for this species.

Thanks

Feeding Pomegranate

Titch — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 21:13:47 GMT

Hi guys,

My tree looks like it has fully recovered from my over zealous root pruning. There is prolific new growth, particularly at the tips of stems and there are also fine feeder roots poking out of the drainage holes.

I wanted to give my tree a bit of feed to help encourage the new growth. I'm not sure if my tree has already flowered or not yet because I've only had it for two months and I'm not sure if it flowered before I bought it.

I've read that rose feed is suitable for pomegranate trees in summer. Should I feed my tree on this or is there something more suitable that you guys could recommend?

Cheers :]

How to treat stem rot in ficus plant?

hossen — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 07:25:28 GMT

Hello,

Below is my ficus bonsai which i took the picture last month.

Since last week i noticed one branch of my ficus is healthy and the other branch is not healthy.

When i try to find the problem i see that half of tree is rotting. the rotting starts from the branch i cut and is going downward. After i cut the branch i put vaseline to protect it and i dont know how it rots.

Is there a solution to save my bonsai?

Bonsai in the form of S

hossen — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 17:41:35 GMT

Hello everyone,

I have seen a bonsai which has the form of S alphabet,

Can anyone explain how the stem is bent to take the S form,

Thanks,

Hossen

Newcomer?

Stymie — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 19:10:19 GMT

When you visit the site for the first time, introduce yourself here, mention your special interest and whereabouts in the world you are:)

I'm Stymie aka Don, growing all kinds of bonsai, keeping goats and telling jokes. My location is Sheffield South Yorkshire UK.

Bonsai Beginners

hossen — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 10:35:08 GMT

Hello,

I am Hossen and i like bonsai.

Here in Mauritius we do not have bonsai shop, bonsai garden and nothing about bonsai.

In library and flowering shop some bonsai books are available and bonsai pots.

Can anyone tell me how to prevent root and stem rot after cutting?

Thanks,

Hossen

Is this normal?

Titch — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 10:19:37 GMT

I bought my first bonsai tree two weeks ago and decided to repot it to check the roots thoroughly for disease.

However a week on and several leaves have turned yellow and have dropped off :unsure: . Is this normal after repotting?

I have a punica granatum and repotted into special bonsai soil mixed with 6mm gravel. The soil was watered deeply when I repotted it and is still moist.

Please give advice if you can!

General Tips?

MWild — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 19:59:41 GMT

Sorry for posting alot on these forums recently but as im a beginner and have limited access to resources as im quite young, i was wondering if any of you veteran bonsaiers could give me some tips?

I have the basics of keeping them alive now i'd like to know the common do's and dont's etc. How to shape, train etc.

Also i expect their arent many bonsai clubs where i live nor would there be bonsai teachers?

Thanks alot :)

introduction

Jinny — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:31:08 GMT

i've just registered here...and been having a look around...i'm a keen gardener...and just got my 1st 2 bonsai's(moved to the next level i think :) ) 1 is a sagarethia theezans and to be honest not a clue what the other is ?? just thought i'd introduce myself and say hello.

Jinny

My Bonsai was bought in regular soil...can i repot already?

MWild — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 21:18:20 GMT

hi guys, i just bought my first bonsai!

It seems to have been originally potted in regular soil. So what i was wondering is if i could buy bonsai soil and repot already?

I have a segetarias Bonsai. (semi-evergreen and specifically bonsai)

Thanks

Can i create a bonsai from a branch?

MWild — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 22:27:38 GMT

Hey guys, i was just wondering if it would be possible to make a bonsai tree from a branch in my garden with rooting compound?

Ive done some research and it seems to be possible to just create a tree so i dont see why i couldnt turn it into a bonsai?

If it is possible could someone supply me with a guide maybe or even just some tips to get me on my way?

Thanks :D

p.s. the trees are a evergreen fern and a plum tree

Japanese Maple

JonezyAlz — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 19:06:03 GMT

Ive been reading lots of books and Ive noticed a lot of them seem to assume you know stuff already so I thought I would take this chance to ask some questions (Which again, Im sorry if they seem daft).
Ive been looking at the Japanese Maple's and actually purchased one from an offer in The Times (mum had one aswell and it got delivered and she has planted it outside in a big pot but doesnt intend to make it into a bonsai) and Id like to make it into a Bonsai but was wondering....

When you buy a small one, do you put it straight into a bonsai pot?

I ready they are to be kept outside - if they are in a bonsai pot, how do you stop them from falling over in strong wind or getting drowned in strong rain. (I know there might be an obvious answer but Im afraid I have no idea :/

When do you know when you should start pruning it and putting wire on it?

I know Bonsai's take years and Im willing to put in all the hard work needed, I just want to try and get it right and not kill off the plant by accident!

Thanks
Alexandra

BIG LEAVES, HELP!

zwm — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 22:27:48 GMT

I have a small Chinese Elm, kept indoors on a brightish windowsill, although it is winter. I noticed recently some of the leaves were getting a bit big and so I pruned it back. Now a few weeks later I have aggressive new growth with even bigger leaves! What do I do? :w00t: Complete beginner so any advice welcome.

Overwatered Tree

Sharpy — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 13:17:05 GMT

Hi there,

I fear I may of over watered my Chinese plum bonsai tree, ive had it around 3 months and its always looked healthy until a week or so ago. The leaves have lost there colour and have started to curl up and feel very dry. I haven't watered the tree for about 3 days now and the soil is still very damp. I have kept bonsai for around 2 years but my other trees are Chinese elm, I think ive made the mistake of watering the plum tree as often as the elms. I also repoted the tree (in the same pot) when I first brought it and im not entirely happy with the drainage of the soil but the tree seemed ok so I was planning on leaving it until next spring for a repot, but now im wondering if repotting now would benefit the tree by getting rid on the wet soil? on the other hand would would the tree be strong/healthy enough for a repot at this time?

other info
I love in the Midlands (UK)
soil mix ive been using is 50% bonsai soil / 50% sand + mixing in a small amount of grit sand.

Any advice to save my tree would be greatly appreciated:)
[img]http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h7/sharpydoo/bonsai/IMG_0357.jpg[/img]

Plant is dying help :(

Mr. First — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 14:25:13 GMT

Red Maple Plant

Use ready mix bonsai soil

water two times a day morning and dinner time

Is my plant to young to be put in a bonsai pot with bonsai soil?

Zone - not sure

North eastern USA-Connecticut

Bonsai Sago Palm

Lazar — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 01:22:44 GMT

Hi, this is my first bonsai tree and quite frankly my first plant (I'm not weird, I just recently moved out of my parents house). It was pretty cheap so I figured if I sucked at taking care of it that it wouldn't matter. It's healthy, the only problems are it came with a cheap plastic pot and the rocks on top are glued or something.

So my questions are: Is it normal to buy plants with these rocks that aren't separable? (It's not an artificial tree either, haha)

Is there any way I can take the tree out of the pot without harming it?

Any other recommendations on what sized pot I should buy or any particular soil/fertilizer? I'm really interested in buying more bonsai trees, I just want to make sure I'm capable of taking care of this one.

Emley Show

Stymie — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 19:08:21 GMT

Will be exhibiting there tomorrow. Order us some dry weather.
Bakewell has been packing 'em in this week the 190th consecutive years' show. WOW!

Photoperiod for Ficus Retusa?

GrassHopper — Sun, 30 May 2010 23:09:48 GMT

Hi Guys, I'm new here and new to bonsai. Was given a Fig as a birthday pressie and just love it. I can't keep it outside, not yet anyway, and because of lack of natural light I have been keeping it under a 30w Warm White CFL for 16 on 8 off. It seems to be thriving, got lots of new shoots.

Is this the correct photoperiod?

Do I need to change the photoperiod as if to emulate the seasons natural change?

If I leave it on the same photoperiod will it just continue to vegitate n never flower or fruit?

Cheers

Blossom

Stymie — Mon, 24 May 2010 14:50:14 GMT

Flowers on the little trees have been most prolific this time. I think they must feel threatened by the winter weather and are attempting to propagate. The Almond and Cherry blossom is over now but I have Crab apple, Berberis, Potentilla, Wisteria and both colours of Hawthorne out at the moment. Satsuki has just popped the first three blooms and there's even a first flower on the Escallonia.
Has it been the same for everyone?

Typically topical.

Stymie — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 10:34:07 GMT

Buds are swelling in the UK and we should now be feverishly trying to catch up with the re-potting which has been delayed by the frozen root systems. We're still getting the freezing nights but things are definitely improving as the days get steadily longer. I had to shoot off yesterday to replenish my cat litter with another 90 litres. Its amazing where it all goes. I've even put some in the Fuchsias this year. All the best to you and have a good growing year. =Don.

Broken Branch to bonsai?

jaylc005 — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 12:04:13 GMT

Hi chaps, i better introduce myself, im jay, nice forum you guys have here, ive always been into bonsai and did have a collection but i lost it when i split with a partner about 4 years ago, I do still however have 1 tree which was originaly a bare root japanese maple sapling, now 4 years old :) looks crap but its comming back to life which is a good thing!

Anyway, out the front of my garden there is what I think is a spruce or larch, not sure which, it has the appearence of a pine but the leaves are much smaller denser and softer than the pine needles, with a dark smoothish bark. I will post pics at some point, but heres the deal..

I accidentally snapped a lower branch from the tree, I gather at some point in the past someone has pruned the lower branch back and this left roughly a foot long twisted contorted branch with a sharp wedge cut on the end..

Needless to say, being attached to the rest of the tree, it had produced lots of side shoots and new growth, although messy and random.

when i snapped the branch, it snapped almost at soil surface level, and is about an inch thich at the snap.. i noticed a few very fine roots around the bottom, which ran about 2/3rds of the way around the branch/trunk all roughly 1cm long..

I have planted it into some random soil i picked up out the greenhouse, which seems hard to water but softer than the original soil it was in..

I also covered the break and everything except for the roots with organic rooting hormone gel, it is now indoors ontop of my fishtank which over time will warm the pot gently (nothing more than 24oC) over the course of the day, I am also spray misting it regularly with rainwater.. I have a selection of nutrients for various things so no doubt I have something here, I was hoping I could foliar feed it into producing more roots, the leaf mass is low but in comparison too root mass it doesent look like it will be a survivor.. what is your opinions chaps? any ideas on how to sustain the life of the plant until it has chance to grow enought roots.. I have garden lights of the hps and mh variety to also assist or i have a greenhouse, though its very cold here at the moment (uk) we had another frost today!

The main factor here is, there is already roots growing, they was white and healthy but very fine, and very little.. but the potential to grow them has already been overcome by the tree..

will it survive? I guess only time will tell (hopefully not to long)
thanks in advance

jay

Tree identification

Mr Miyagi — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 20:16:48 GMT

A nice little website for those that need help identifying British trees.

http://www-saps.plantsci.cam.ac.uk/trees/index.htm

Take alook:w00t:

Can't wait for spring....

johnbaz — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:32:44 GMT

Anyone else hate this time of year????

i prefer my deciduous trees fully dressed and not in their birthday suits:angry:

my job entails having to work 12hour shifts so, when i'm on days, it's dark when i'm going to work and dark when i get home from work...

i tend to lose a couple of trees as they don't get the attention that they need and with the warmer fall/ winters they can dry out rather quickly:crying:

roll on spring;)

john:)

dust tent

RoyH — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 19:06:26 GMT

here's a picture of my dust tent, which i have made up inside my garage.

its suspended from the garage roof & held in place by velcro & its to prevent the spread of dust all over the garage when I'm wood carving, also doubles as sleep over when the wife's cross with me;)

99p garden center bargin

hendo00567 — Tue, 26 May 2009 00:00:40 GMT

this is my first atempt at styling my first 99p garden center bargin lol :) iv had the tree a year and a half and after a new pot and bend in spring it looking a bit better . could any one tell me what it is ? im thinking its some kind of juniper maby

some disease

mikaa — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 14:13:51 GMT

all the foliage from tree is droping down!!!!!!!!
what disease it might be?
spidermites??
there are some [u]WHITE[b][/b][/u] mesh, tolks., near points where leaves ar growing from
i made some pictures!.

what kind of pesticides i should use? some homemade??

how do i tell the difference beteen dropping leaves and dying ?

adam_silver_cardiff — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:02:24 GMT

hey all as u may know im pretty new to all this. my tree is starting to drop its leaves. there appear to be some new leaves growing which i thought was odd. but how do i tell if its unwell or just dropping leaves ?

thanx

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new to bonsai .

adam_silver_cardiff — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:46:11 GMT

hey all im new to the site :) ive been off work ill for about a month and my gf just gave my my 1st bonsai. ive wanted one for ages but never got round to buying one. anways its a 4 year old Japanese Zelkova ( well i think its Japanese ) ive ordered feed and some tools and books off the net. but just wandered if there are any immediate care instructions i should know about ? here's a little pic of it :

I also have a small bonsai/plant/tree of some sorts that belongs to my gf but im looking after it for her as shes just moved down to cardiff near me for uni and doesnt trust her mum with it . neither of us know what it is . but its a little stragly and shes never really done nething with it except water it . wandered if anyone could shed some light on it ? heres a pic :

thanx all :)
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Admin — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 16:08:44 GMT

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can you take cuttings from a big tree

adam_silver_cardiff — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:22:15 GMT

now i dont want to sound to stupid. but do you HAVE to grow a bonsai from seed or sapling ? or can you take a cutting from a larger tree ? ( an acer for example... a maple of some sort ) and plant this and grow it ? or would it just not work at all ??

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Yew Trees

RoyH — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:32:26 GMT

Hi all, below are some pictures of a couple of yew trees, which i have had the opportunity to remove from a small holding that the owner wants rid off due to the poisonus problem with yew trees. I.E his pigs may eat part of them??

Its perhaps too early to lift them, but i have no choice ie if i dont remove them, they are off onto a bonfire.

There are two trees amongst this undergrowth, which i have reduced in size ready for removal, they are around 30" tall.

here are the two trees ready for lifting.

you can see part of a chimney pot & part of some of his chickens to give you an idea of scale / size of the trees. I will update this thread as I develop the trees and just hope they survive.

BTW the trunks are around 4" diamiter as these trees have been cropped back several time over the years.

new bonsai owner needs help regarding pruning etc!

geordie mark — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 12:52:29 GMT

hi there ive been a fan of bonsai for years now and have wanted one for as long as i can remmber and yesterday my fiancee bought me one from b&q its only a mall one but hat was the size i was wanting anyway to be honest but now i have it home i was fancying some pruning and taking out some branches as there all over the place !will it be ok for mt to take some branches off and prune the leaves at this time of year ? my next question is also to do with bending the branches i was wondering how this is achieved ? i also want my main trunk to bend some is there any special ways i can train this ?:w00t: thanks alot

Mark.